Friday, January 29, 2016

We hear it all the time: “The wage gap is a myth!” Or, “We have all the laws we need to eliminate pay inequality.”

But even in jobs predominantly held by women—such as administrators, registered nurses, and teachers—men take home more pay every single week. So, despite what the critics say, the wage gap persists.

And many employers still punish workers for discussing their pay with co-workers, depriving them of the information that could help all workers make sure they are being paid fairly. Legal Voice, our allied organizations, and our legislative champions are not willing to accept that status quo, so we are advocating for an equal pay bill currently before the Washington Legislature.

We are excited that HB 1646 passed out of the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee last week, and it is now ready to be scheduled for a vote by the full House. But we need your help to ensure this important bill also receives a hearing in the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.

Please urge Chair Michael Baumgartner and other members of the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee to schedule SB 6442 for a public hearing. Here's how:

• Call the legislative hotline at 800-562-6000 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Monday through Friday. Your message will be passed along to your Senator.

• Email Senator Baumgartner or the other members of the Committee. Use this link to email them all at once (sample message included). Having trouble? Copy and paste this list into the “To” field of your email, and use the sample message below:

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

After the fight, James Bateman was convicted of simple assault. His girlfriend at the time decided to dump the abuser and move on. But that’s not the end of the story.

A few months after the breakup she reported that she started receiving text messages from Bateman. Some of them were pictures of her boyfriend’s vehicle with corresponding threats, according to the Yakima Herald; one was a picture of a pistol. She said that Bateman told her that if she didn’t break up with her boyfriend, he would post a “compromising” video of her online. And she reported that he made threats to her physical safety over the course of 150 unwanted text messages.

In July 2015, she took her cellphone to a police station in Benton County, Washington. Investigators scanned the texts, which lead to a felony charge against Bateman for cyberstalking with a domestic violence allegation. Bateman’s trial was set for November 16, 2015. The case is still ongoing, Bateman is currently out on $10,000 bail.

Unfortunately, this scenario is far too indicative of the time we live in.

January is Stalking Awareness Month, the perfect time to begin changing the status quo. In 2016, approximately 7.5 million people will be stalked in the U.S. The majority of victims will be stalked by someone they know, and about 11% will have already been stalked for five years or more.

Most organizations and laws classify stalking as an intentional incident of threatening, harassing, following, surveillance, or coercive behavior that occurs more than once and causes you to fear for your safety, the safety of someone you know, or your property. Stalking is a serious crime. In today's world, cyberstalking—or electronic communication with the intent to harass, intimidate, torment, or embarrass another person—is just as serious.

In December, Legal Voice shared the story of Karen’s experience with cyberstalking and nonconsensual pornography. She was faced with an abuser who sent threatening text messages, and then posted her intimate images and personal information online. When she sought help, no one treated her abuser’s actions as a crime.

But stalking is a crime under the laws of all 50 states. Some states treat the crime as a felony; others don't. In fact, every state's stalking laws are a bit different. Some states require victims to experience actual fear of death or bodily harm; others say reasonable fear is enough. And, just like it happened in Benton County, many perpetrators accused of stalking can post bail and roam free while their criminal trial is pending.

Here’s a not-so-fun fact: Three out of four women killed by their partners were being stalked by those partners before the murder. Three out of four. And even if the stalking doesn’t lead to physical violence, the psychological impacts are often severe.

We must make sure stalking victims get the protection they need. Washington State offers a protection order created specifically for victims of stalking who experience more than “unlawful harassment” but do not qualify for a Domestic Violence Protection Order. Stalking victims can further protect themselves by enrolling in the Address Confidentiality Program, filing a civil or criminal lawsuit, or requesting a notification of the stalker’s release from jail or prison. More information on these options is available in the Legal Voice memo, Are You Being Stalked? Tips for Protection.

During Stalking Awareness Month (and all year round), education is key. With a complete understanding of the realities of stalking—how common it is, what it actually looks like, and what can happen if left unaddressed—we can better empower stalking victims to protect themselves and help to end the stalking before a physical attack occurs.

Josh is a managing partner at Benchmark Legal where he practices business, commercial, and tax law. He volunteers his time as a site manager with the UWKC Free Tax Preparation Campaign and serves on Legal Voice's Self Help Committee. Josh is also currently the president of Seattle Select Attorneys Association.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

In 2006, Legal Voice and our allies won passage of the Anderson-Murray anti-discrimination law, which protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in Washington. Now the protections that this law provides to transgender people are under attack—and we need your help to fight back.

Bills have been introduced in Olympia that would eliminate protections that allow transgender people to use restrooms and other facilities that match their gender identity. These protections have existed for ten years and are essential for transgender people to live and work safely in Washington.

These bills are part of a new wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation that is being pushed across the country. We can't allow them to pass in Washington.

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